Two Things To Know About Installing Gas Pipes
Working with the pipes for a gas line installation is much different than working with pipes for plumbing. Here are some things that are good to know about working with gas lines.
Gas Pipes Must Transition To Smaller Sizes To Provide Pressure
One of the main differences with a gas line is that the size of the pipe must reduce in size in order to maintain pressure in your home. Figuring out what size pipes you need can be a bit of a puzzle, since the pipes need to move from a larger size coming into your home to a small size going into things like your furnace or gas stove. In addition, you must follow the regulations for gas lines so that they are being used properly and safely.
Installing gas lines requires special fittings to move down to smaller lines for all your appliances. Your furnace will require a bigger gas line than a stove, so the lines for those appliances must branch off the gas line at a certain point so that you have the right-sized pipe.
Gas Pipes Come In Set Sizes
The manufacturing of steel pipes for gas lines has changed quite a bit over the years. In the past, the pipe would be cut to the exact length needed for a job, and a special machine would be used to thread the pipe so that a connection fitting can be added to it. Today, pipes come in set sizes that already have threads on them. This makes it easier to pick up the pieces you need from a local home improvement store, but it involves using multiple pipe sizes and multiple fittings to get it to all come together.
When determining the length of runs of gas pipes, you must account for using multiple sections of pipe and the connections to join two pipes together. There is a thread sealant that must be applied to every single pipe threading to ensure that no gas is going to leak through. When finished, the entire system of gas lines needs to be pressurized to test it, which will make sure there are no places where gas is leaking out. Connections can be covered with a soapy solution to see if gas is leaking through and causing the solution to bubble.
As you can imagine, this can seem very complicated for the typical homeowner, which is why it is best to leave the installation of gas lines to a professional. The layout and connections of the gas lines are critical to get right or your appliances will not function properly.
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